Orioles 2012 draft class retrospective: Where are they now?

Daniel GallenThe Baltimore Sun

With the 2013 first-year player draft beginning tonight in Secaucus, N.J., it’s worth taking a peek back at where some of the Orioles’ notable picks from last season ended up — from the majors to the minors and some who opted to attend college.

Then: Gausman wrapped up a sophomore season in which he won 12 games with a 2.77 ERA for the Tigers. A 2012 first-team All-American, Gausman was regarded as one of the top college arms in the draft, and he struck out 135 batters in 123 2/3 innings in his final year at LSU.

Now: The right-hander is already a contributor to the big league club. Gausman started the year at Double-A Bowie but was called up to the Orioles to make his debut at Toronto on May 23. While he struggled in his first two starts at the Blue Jays and Washington, Gausman flashed the potential that made him 2012’s fourth overall pick against Detroit on Sunday, allowing one run on five hits over six innings.

Then: Kline led the Cavaliers with 94 strikeouts in 93 2/3 innings pitched in 2012, earning second-team All-ACC honors as a starter. He also showed up as a solid late-inning option and finished third in career saves at Virginia with 21.

Now: The right-hander started four games for short-season Aberdeen in 2012 before advancing to Low-A Delmarva this year. He was 1-2 with a 5.86 ERA before May 24 ankle surgery sidelined him. He’s expected to miss six to eight weeks.

Then: Marin had signed to play at Miami (Fla.), but he ultimately spurned the Hurricanes to join the Orioles organization. Baseball America rated Marin as the nation’s No. 192 prospect entering the draft.

Now: Marin batted .286 in 53 games split between the Gulf Coast League and Low-A Delmarva in 2012. The 19-year-old stayed with Delmarva this spring and his batting .263 with one home run and 21 RBIs in 48 games. In a May 31 game against Greensboro, he went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

Then: Walker was the top hitter for the Gamecocks, who fell in the College World Series final to Arizona. The Limerick, Pa., native batted .321 with 11 home runs, 55 RBIs, 48 runs scored, 12 doubles and a .450 on-base percentage in 67 games. He was a first-team All-SEC selection in his junior season.

Now: Walker has been climbing through the organization, playing 22 games last year at short-season Aberdeen, 31 games at the start of this year at Low-A Delmarva and his past 24 games at High-A Frederick. He’s batting .344 with three home runs and 16 RBIs for the Keys.

Colin Poche, LHP, Marcus High School (Flower Mound, Texas)

Drafted: Round 5, No. 162 overall

Then: Poche as the Dallas Morning News Pitcher of the Year after posting a 7-3 record with a 0.21 ERA. 97 strikeouts and six complete games in 12 appearances. Perfect Game ranked him was the No. 489 recruit in the nation and No. 59 in Texas.

Now: Poche was earliest 2012 Orioles draft pick to spurn the club, electing to honor his commitment to Arkansas. In his freshman year with the Razorbacks, he appeared in six games (five starts) and compiled a 3-0 record and 1.04 ERA. He allowed nine hits and nine walks in 17 1/3 innings pitched while striking out 18.

Then: Boss batted .302 with five home runs and team-high 43 RBIs while posting a .419 on-base percentage, thanks to 43 walks. The Lowell, Mich., native reeled off a 15-game hit streak and 24-game reached base streak during the season as well. He was a three-time All-Big Ten selection.

Now: Boss spent the majority of 2012 with short-season Aberdeen, appearing in 65 games and hitting .257 with five home runs and 27 RBIs. He’s been with Low-A Delmarva for all of 2013, batting .233 with five home runs, 25 RBIs and a .328 on-base percentage.

Josh Hader, LHP, Old Mill High School

Drafted: Round 19, No. 582 overall

Then: Hader went 10-0 with a 0.39 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 72 2/3 innings pitched for Old Mill, but seemed slated to fly under the radar in the draft. He was going to attend Anne Arundel Community College before the Orioles called him while he was on his way to Camden Yards for the Brooks Robinson All-Star Game news conference.

Now: Hader has thrived in the Orioles organization. In 17 games split between the Gulf Coast League and Short-Season Aberdeen in 2012, Hader was 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA in 28 2/3 innings of relief. He struck out 48 and walked just nine opposing batters. As a starter for Low-A Delmarva this season, Hader is 1-2 with a 2.28 ERA in nine games. He was named a South Atlantic League all-star and has struck out 44 batters in 47 1/3 innings.

Then: The son of one of the most famous Orioles of all-time, Ripken batted .377 with 25 RBIs while also going 4-1 with a 2.30 ERA for Gilman. He was a Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association all-star, and he also starred for Gilman in basketball, scoring more than 1,000 points in his career.

Now: Ripken elected to attend South Carolina and redshirted his freshman year.

Lucas Herbst, OF, Santa Clara

Drafted: Round 26, No. 792

Then: Herbst was an honorable mention All-WCC selection in 2012, batting .351 with two home runs and 26 RBIs. He posted a .409 on-base percentage and played in 40 games.

Now: Herbst has been steady for Low-A Delmarva this season, batting .297 with two home runs, 12 RBIs and a .355 on-base percentage for the Shorebirds. Last season, he hit .238 in 51 games split between Short-Season Aberdeen and Delmarva.

Steel Russell, C, Midland Community College (Texas)

Drafted: Round 32, No. 972

Then: Russell batted .361 with four home runs and 26 RBIs in 41 games for the junior college. He recorded just one error in the field as well.

Now: The son of Orioles bench coach John Russell, Steel is batting .317 in 11 games for Low-A Delmarva.

Then: Plaia led Loyola Marymount with six home runs in 2012 and also knocked in 38 RBIs. He was a first-team All-WCC selection and batted .326, including .385 in WCC play.

Now: Plaia elected to return to school for his senior season and earned WCC Defensive Player of the Year honors, in addition to another first-team selection. He led the Lions with a .311 average and threw out 26 of 62 potential base stealers.